Safety fastener for skis



P 14, 1965 G. SCHNEIDER 3,206,221

SAFETY FASTENER FOR SKIS Filed Dec. 13, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet l p 14, 1955 s. SCHNEIDER 3,206,221

SAFETY FASTENER FOR SKIS Filed Dec. 13, 1962 4 Sheds-Sheet 2 Sept. 14, 1965 G. SCHNEIDER 3,206,221

SAFETY FASTENER FOR SKIS Filed Dec. 15, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet z p 14, 1965 G. SCHNEIDER 3,206,221

SAFETY FASTENER FOR SKIS Filed Dec. 13, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent ped- 3,266,221 SAFETY FASTENER FOR SKIS Georges Schneider, La Chaux-deFonds, Switzerland, as-

signor to A., Sainte-Croix, Vaud, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Filed Dec. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 244,448 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Dec. 29, 1961, 15,113/61 6 Claims. (Cl. 280-1155) The present invention relates to a safety ski fastener comprising an abutment provided to hold the toe of a boot and a device for fastening the heel of this boot onto the ski.

In known fasteners of this type, and designed especially for ski competitions, the heel-fastening device comprises a brace which is integral with a pivoting part fastened to the ski and whereon the heel of the boot is attached, e.g. by means of a long strap. The boot is thus able to turn laterally when the toe thereof is released from the abutment. it has also been suggested that the heel brace be fitted onto a part integral with the ski by using a bayonet-type fastener allowing for pivot and release from the brace at a given angular position. Under the suggested conditions, the brace-and consequently the heel of the boot-1emains fastened to the ski or is freed therefrom only at a specific angular position when the toe of the boot is released from the abutment, which can present serious drawbacks.

It is the object of the present invention to eliminate these disadvantages, and the fastener relating thereto is characterized in that the heel-fastening device comprises a base-plate fitted onto the ski, whereon the heel rests and having at the front a hooking element and a U-shaped brace wherein the heel of the boot is to be fitted and secured, this brace being provided with hooking means designed to engage with the hooking element of the baseplate so as to hold the heel against this plate, the brace being movable and releasable from the plate during a fall.

The attached drawings illustrate, by way of example, four embodiments of the ski fastener to which the present invention relates.

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the first embodiment.

FIGURE 2 is a plan of the heel-fastening device, the boot having been removed.

FIGURE 3 is a section along line 33 of FIG. 2.

FTGURE 4 is a section of a detail along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FTGURE 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, but of a variant.

FIGURE 6 is a section along line 66 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURES 7 and 8 are perspective views of details of another variant.

FIGURE 9 is a plan of the second embodiment.

FIGURE 10 is a section along line 101tl of FIG. 9.

FIGURE 11 is a plan of the third embodiment.

FIGURE 12 is a section along line 1212 of FIG. 11.

FIGURE 13 is a plan of the fourth embodiment.

FIGURE 14 is a section along line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

The ski fastener represented in FIG. 1 comprises an abutment 1 for securing the toe of a ski boot 2, and a heel-fastening device designated generally by 3. This reel-fastening device 3, illustrated in detail in FIGS. 2 to 4, comprises a base-plate 4- fastened to the ski by screws 5 and having a protrusion or extrusion 6 in front, with respect to the general direction of the ski, there being a space 7 between said protrusion and the ski. This protrusion or extension 6, which has rounded edges, forms a prolongation of plate 4, i.e. the upper surface thereof extends along the same plane as that of said plate. The heel-fastening device 3 further comprises a U-shaped brace 23 wherein the heel or boot 2 is to be fitted and secured by known means with the aid of a long strap 9. The transverse portion of brace 8 is provided with lateral shoulders 10 (FIG. 4) designed to form a free space below the heel to receive protrusion 6 of base-plate 4.

A heel cable 11 surrounded by a sheath 12, of plastic for instance, is connected at one end to a check of brace 3 and attached at the other end to a spring 13 hooked to a closing lever 14 linked by connecting elements 15 and 16 to the other cheek of brace 8. In FIG. 2, lever 14 is shown in closed position, i.e. the position it takes when cable 11 is stretched behind the heel of the boot and when the latter is jammed against front abutment 1 of the fastener.

The described fastener works as follows:

If, in the event of a fall, the boot is subjected to a twist exceeding a predetermined value, the abutment is rocked, thus freeing the toe end of the boot. The heel of the boot is simultaneously moved, together with the brace, to the position shown by dot-dash lines in FIG. 2. In this position of the boot, brace 8 is free and can be completely disengaged from base-plate 4.

In the variant shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, there is a stiffening-rib 17 in the middle of brace 8', and a slot 18 of corresponding width in protrusion 6 making up the hooking element of base-plate 4'.

In the second variant shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, brace 3" has a stamped portion 19 designed to receive protrusion 6 of base-plate 4 similar to the protrusion of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4. There is a recess 29 in stamped portion 19 of brace S" for receiving the curved end 21 of a spring leaf 22 attached to the lower surface of plate 4. This spring 22 is used to hold brace 8" under plate 4 when the ski is worn.

The cheeks of brace 8" are provided with openings 23, e.g. for a long strap, and openings 24 having notches 25 enabling the position of the heel cable or spring to be adjusted like that shown in FIG. 5, and the spring comprises a double-thread screw to adjust the tension thereof between the stretcher and the brace. The spring could also be replaced by an element of rubber or other plastic material.

The operation of the described variants is identical with that of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 4.

In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, base-plate 26 is arranged to pivot around a vertical axis 27 located near the rear end of the plate. 8 designates the heel-brace held under the fore end 28 of base-plate 26 which forms the booking element.

Elastic holding means, generally designated 29, are assembled onto the ski behind plate 26. These means include a support 30 screwed to the ski and provided with a bent portion extending above plate 26; this portion carries a ball 31 pressed by a spring 32 whose force can be adjusted by using a threaded plug 33. To hold plate 26 in normal position, as shown by solid lines, ball 31 fits into a corresponding hollow 34 made in this plate 26. (Ether holding means could also be devised, e.g. the fric- 3 tion of a leaf elastically pressed against the base-plate by means of an adjustable screw and a spring.

If, during a fall, the boot-which is supposed to be held in front by a fixed abutmentis subjected to twist exceeding a predetermined value, plate 26 is pivoted about its axis 27 counter to the elastic holding action exerted by ball 31 in hollow 34. Brace S is thus freed and the boot is disengaged from the front abutment and from the heel-fastening device.

The front abutment could also be movable, i.e. pivot in known manner when the boot is subjected to exceptional twist.

In the third embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, the heel-fastening device comprises a base-plate 35 hinged to an axis 36 which is transverse with respect to the ski. This plate is slidingly mounted on a holding part 37 having one sloping side coming into engagement with a corresponding bevel 38 provided on one edge of an opening 39 in plate 35. Holding part 37 is secured to the ski by screw means 37', and a spring 4%), whose tension is adjustable by using a screw 41, elastically presses plate 35 against holding part 37.

If the heel of the boot is subjected to" an upward vertical force exceeding a predetermined value, for instance in case of forward fall, brace 8 lifts plate 35 which disengages itself from holding part 37 counter to the action of spring 40 and pivots around the hinge of axis 36, thus freeing brace 8 and consequently the boot. Instead of being hinged, the base-plate could be held in a Support, by dove tail edges for example, this plate being released from said support when the force acting thereon exceeds said predetermined value.

In the fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the heel-fastening device comprises a base-plate 42 mounted on a knuckle-joint generally designated as. To this end, the back portion of this plate 42 is provided with a spherical cup, e.g. stamped, with an elongated opening 45 pierced therein through which passes a vertical axis 46. The spherical cup 44 is pressed against a socket 47 of corresponding shape which is integral with a support part 48 secured to the ski. A nut 49 is screwed to the threaded end of axis 46 to hold cup 44 elastically pressed against socket 47, with a washer Stl of rubber or other elastic material being interposed between the inner surface of cup 44 and nut 49. A protective lid 51 covers cup 44. Elastic holding means, generally designated 52, are assembled behind plate 42 to hold it laterally and vertically as shall be described hereinafter. Said holding means 52 comprises a block 53 integral with part 48 and bored out to contain a ball 54 pressed by a spring 55 whose force is adjustable by means of a screw 56. Ball 54 is engaged in a corresponding hollow formed in the surface of cup 44. The fore end of base-plate 42 has a protrusion 42', as in the preceding examples, for hooking brace 8. Supplementary holding means are provided to hold plate 42 from underneath. These means comprise a movable bolt 57 which hooks onto a beveled lip 58 formed under plate 42, bolt 57 being pushed elastically against lip 58 by an open ring-shaped spring 59 supported by an abutment 60 which is integral with part 48. Lip 53 and bolt 57 are shaped like the arc of a circle whose center goes through pivot axis 46.

Instead of having two holding means as described, only means 52 or only bolt 57 could be provided. In the latter case, lateral holding of plate 42 could be adjusted by tightening nut 49 to a greater or lesser degree so as to alter the friction between cup 44 and its socket 47.

The operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 is similar to that of the preceding embodiments except that, here, the base-plate can unhook vertically and laterally when the heel of the boot is subjected to both twist and pull simultaneously. The elongated opening 45 in cup 44 allows plate 42 to be lifted at an angle of at least 15 which is sufiicient to release brace 8.

Although the hooking element of the base-plate is it. formed by a protrusion which is integral with said plate, in the fastener described, a separate hooking elementsecured to said plate by rivets or any other securing membercould also be devised.

Moreover, the width of the heel-brace could be adjustable in known manner and, instead of comprising shoulders, could be flat and provided with lateral hooks designed to mesh with one another under the hooking element of the base plate.

The described fastener has the advantage of being of particularly simple construction and easy to operate; it furthermore allows for complete release of the ski boot in case of fall, not only enabling supplementary twist of the skiers foot to be avoided but also keeping the ski, still held to the boot, from striking the skier as is the case with most known fasteners.

What I claim is:

1. A safety ski binding comprising an abutment provided to hold the toe of a boot, a base-plate fitted onto the ski whereon the heel rests, a U-shaped brace in which the heel of the boot is to be fitted and secured by means of a tensioning device embracing said heei, said baseplate being fiat throughout and being provided at its forward end with an extrusion, in the plane of said baseplate, forming a hooking part extending transversely and symmetrically in relation to the longitudinal axis of the ski, a free space thus being provided between the top surface of the ski and said hooking part of the base-plate, the transverse portion between the two side arms of said U-shaped brace being inserted into said free space and said tensioning device being attached to the said side arm of said brace.

2. A safety ski binding according to claim 1 wherein said transverse portion between the two side arms of said U-shaped brace is stepped to provide a central bottom portion corresponding to the width of said base-plate.

3. A safety ski binding according to claim 1 wherein said base-plate is pivotally mounted about an axis perpendicular to the ski and wherein means elastically holding said base-plate are fitted onto the ski bend said plate, said means comprising a spring biased ball extending into a recess provided in said plate.

4. A safety ski binding according to claim 1 wherein said base-plate is hinged about an axis transverse with respect to the ski and means are provided for elastically holding said base-plate against the ski.

5. A safety ski binding according to claim 1 wherein said base-plate is provided with a spherical stamped cup forming a knuckle-joint, said spherical cup being provided with an elongated opening through which passes a vertical axis fixed to the ski, said spherical cup being elastically pressed against a socket secured to the ski and wherein said base-plate is held laterally and vertically by a spring biased ball in operative engagement with a recess formed in the rear end of said base-plate, and wherein said base-plate is provided adjacent its forward end with a hook extending on the underside thereof and in operative engagement with a spring biased latch member mounted on the ski.

6. A safety ski binding comprising an abutment provided to hold the toe of a boot, a base-plate fitted onto the ski whereon the heel rests, a U-shaped brace in which the heel of the boot is to be fiteed and secured by means of a tensioning device embracing said heel, said base-plate being flat throughout and being provided at its forward end with an extension in the plane of said base-plate, said extension forming a hoiding-back portion extending transversely and symmetrically in relation to the longitudinal axis of the ski, thereby providing a free space between the top surface of the ski and said holding-back extension of the base plate, said U-shaped brace being provided with a transverse portion connecting the two side arms of the U-shaped brace, said transverse portion being stamped to provide an offset portion designed to be in operative 5 engagement with the holding-back portion of said baseplate, and a spring blade being secured to the underside of said holding-back portion to snap into a recess formed in said offset portion of said transverse portion of the U-shaped brace.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 6/ 61 Austria.

2/52 Switzerland. 10/5 8 Italy.

8/ 60 France.

5/58 Marker 280-1135 10 A. HARRY LEVY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SAFETY SKI BINDING COMPRISING AN ABUTMENT PROVIDED TO HOLD THE TOE OF A BOOT, A BASE-PLATE FITTED ONTO THE SKI WHEREON THE HEEL RESTS, A U-SHAPED BRACE IN WHICH THE HEEL OF THE BOOT IS TO BE FITTED AND SECURED BY MEANS OF A TENSIONING DEVICE EMBRACING SAID HEEL, SAID BASEPLATE BEING FLAT THROUGHOUT AND BEING PROVIDED AT ITS FORWARD END WITH AN EXTRUSION, IN THE PLANE OF SAID BASEPLATE, FORMING A HOOKING PART EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY AND SYMMETRICALLY IN RELATION TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE SKI, A FREE SPACE THUS BEING PROVIDED BETWEEN THE TOP SURFACE OF THE SKI AND SAID HOOKING PART OF THE BASE-PLATE, THE TRANSVERSE PORTION BETWEEN THE TWO SIDE ARMS OF SAID U-SHAPED BRACE BEING INSERTED INTO SAID FREE SPACE AND SAID TENSIONING DEVICE BEING ATTACHED TO THE SAID SIDE ARM OF SAID BRACE. 